Zoom (2006 film)

Zoom (also known as Zoom: Academy for Superheroes) is a 2006 American superhero comedy film directed by Peter Hewitt and written by Adam Rifkin and David Berenbaum. Based upon the children's book Amazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy by Jason Lethcoe, the film stars Tim Allen, Courteney Cox, Chevy Chase, Spencer Breslin, and Rip Torn. It features a former superhero who is dragged into training four superpowered youths to become superheroes and combat an approaching threat.

Released theatrically on August 11, 2006 by Columbia Pictures, the film was panned by critics and it underperformed at the box-office, earning $12.5 million on a $75.6 million budget. Zoom was nominated for one Razzie Award, Worst Actor for Tim Allen (who was also nominated for The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and The Shaggy Dog), but he lost to Marlon and Shawn Wayans for Little Man (also produced by Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios). Zoom was released on DVD on February 13, 2007 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Plot
Thirty years prior, Team Zenith, led by the Shepard brothers Jack / "Captain Zoom" and Connor / "Concussion", fought to protect the world from various threats until the U.S. military used experimental "Gamma-13" radiation to enhance the Shepards' powers. Zoom became faster and stronger, but Concussion suffered a psychotic break and killed his teammates. Zoom seemingly killed Concussion in turn via a vortex, but lost his powers.

In the present, original Zenith Project scientist Dr. Ed Grant discovers Concussion was trapped in a dimensional rift and is returning to Earth. Zenith military officer General Larraby commissions the formation of a new Team Zenith, recruiting a reluctant Zoom as an instructor and Marsha Holloway, a clumsy psychologist and a fan of the original Team Zenith's comic books.

Following a round of auditions, the Zenith Project recruits teenagers Dylan West and Summer Jones and children Tucker Williams and Cindy Collins, who possess invisibility, psionic powers, self-inflation, and super-strength respectively. Over the course of the team's training, Marsha and the recruits become disappointed by Zoom's bitter and sarcastic personality, Dylan mounts failed escape attempts, and Tucker struggles with self-esteem issues and controlling his powers. After the team confront Zoom over his failings, they reconcile and slowly improve their abilities.

Hours before Concussion's return, Zoom helps Dylan unlock a new ability dubbed "mindsight", which he uses to pinpoint where Concussion will emerge and learn the military intends to expose the new Team Zenith to Gamma-13 and use them as a distraction so they can test new weaponry on Concussion. A horrified Zoom asks Marsha to help him rescue the children and travel to Concussion's location, during which she reveals her ability to produce super-breath. Upon arriving, Zoom resolves to face Concussion alone, but Marsha and Team Zenith refuse to abandon him.

When Concussion returns, Larraby fires a neutralizing net at him, but the former blasts it away towards Cindy. Fearing for her safety, Zoom's powers return, allowing him to save her before he uses his speed and Gamma-13 to recreate the vortex while Team Zenith and Marsha guide Concussion into it. After Grant reveals he can save Concussion, Zoom closes the vortex, with the subsequent energy vacuum draining the Shepards' Gamma-13, restoring their original powers and curing Concussion.

Three months later, Team Zenith have returned to their normal lives while continuing to work with Zoom.

Cast

 * Tim Allen as Jack Shepard / Captain Zoom, Connor's younger brother and an ex-superhero with superhuman speed.
 * Courteney Cox as Dr. Marsha Holloway, a psychologist on the Zenith Project who blows rainbow-colored blasts of wind.
 * Chevy Chase as Dr. Ed Grant, a scientist on the Zenith Project.
 * Spencer Breslin as Tucker Williams / Mega Boy, an overweight boy who can enlarge and inflate his body parts at will.
 * Kevin Zegers as Connor Shepard / Concussion, Jack's older brother with concussive blasts who went insane upon being exposed to Gamma-13.
 * Kate Mara as Summer Jones / Wonder, a teenager who possesses telekinesis and empathic senses.
 * Michael Cassidy as Dylan West / Houdini, a teenager with invisibility and clairvoyance.
 * Ryan Newman as Cindy Collins / Princess, a little girl with superhuman strength.
 * Rip Torn as General Larraby, the head of the Zenith Project.
 * Alexis Bledel (uncredited) as Ace, a former member of Zoom's team.
 * Devon Aoki as Daravia, a former member of Zoom's team.
 * Wilmer Valderrama as Marksman, a former member of Zoom's team who also possessed clairvoyance.
 * Cornelia Guest as Cindy's mother
 * Ridge Canipe and Danny McCarthy as Bullies
 * Thomas F. Wilson as Dylan's teacher
 * David Lander as David, an employee at Wendy's.

Production
In June 2003, Revolution Studios acquired the rights to Zoom's Academy for the Super Gifted by former Disney/Warner Bros. animator Jason Lethcoe. Peter Hewitt became attached as director in September 2004.

Tim Allen helped write the initial script, saying "It was very different in script form, much darker than when it came out and what the studio and powers that be decided to make it into a family movie; It was a neat idea of what superheroes are really capable of doing."

Zoom was shot in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Theatrical
Zoom was theatrically released on August 11, 2006, by Columbia Pictures.

Home media
Zoom was released on DVD on February 13, 2007, by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment under the name Zoom: Academy for Superheroes.

Box office
Zoom opened in 2,501 theaters on August 11, 2006 and earned $4.5 million in its opening weekend ranking number nine at the domestic box office. At the end of its run, on September 17, the film had grossed $12 million in the United States and Canada and $516,860 internationally for a worldwide total of $12.5 million.

Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of based on  reviews and an average rating of. The site's critical consensus reads, "Lacking the punch and good cheer of The Incredibles and Sky High, Zoom is a dull and laugh-free affair." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 26 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.

Awards
Zoom was nominated for one Razzie Award, Worst Actor for Tim Allen (also nominated for The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and The Shaggy Dog), but he lost to the Wayans brothers Marlon and Shawn Wayans for Little Man.

Music
Rupert Gregson-Williams was originally attached to compose the film, but dropped out to work on Over the Hedge, and Christophe Beck stepped in. Christophe Beck scored the music for the film and on its soundtrack.

Soundtrack
Although an official movie soundtrack was not released, the following songs were heard during the film:
 * "So Insane" – Smash Mouth
 * "Hang On" – Smash Mouth
 * "Everyday Superhero" – Smash Mouth
 * "Come On Come On" – Smash Mouth
 * "Punk Rock 101" – Bowling for Soup
 * "The World is New" – Save Ferris
 * "Under Pressure" – Queen and David Bowie, cover by Smash Mouth
 * "Superman (It's Not Easy)" – Five for Fighting
 * "The Middle" – Jimmy Eat World
 * "Hero" – Enrique Iglesias
 * "Days Like These" – Smash Mouth
 * "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" – Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
 * "If She Knew What She Wants" – The Bangles
 * "Big Ups" – Triniti Bhaguandas (as Ms. Triniti)
 * "It's On" – Superchick